Smithsonian National Zoo: Andean Spectacled Bears

 Bears are wonderful creatures.  Did you know that there are only 8 definitive species of Bear?  The Giant Panda is considered the furthest away from the median. The proto-species in the center belong to Polar Bears and Brown Bears.  The Andean Spectacled Bear is the next furthest out from the center after Giant Pandas.  Although it shares a characteristic with the American Black Bear, which sits next to the middle pairing.  Andean Bears are also excellent tree climbers!  Unlike American Black Bears, they take it to an extreme.  They actually build platforms up in trees for the purposes of eating and sleeping.  

Like all bears, they're curious and intelligent, and like most bears they're not aggressive.  However, in the wild they are Vulnerable to extinction thanks to their one and only predator: man.

The National Zoo has a very successful history of breeding with this species as does one of my favorite little zoos in Salisbury, Maryland; where they are currently creating a new $6,000,000 habitat to continue their participation in the Andean Spectacled Bear SSP with the AZA.  So excited for the Salisbury Zoo's initiative for this species.

At the National Zoo now are two new animals, a male and a female that are in the process of becoming acquainted.  There was a keeper present to offer information and answer questions.  I remember that the previous female, Brienne, was transferred to the Nashville Zoo for her "retirement" from the SSP program.  I can't recall what he said about the male.  I wish I had taken notes and written down their names.  I know the female is young.  The most recent incumbents were Quito and Brienne who birthed a pair of males, Ian and Sean in the autumn of 2022. 

On this very warm summer morning, the two new bears were out in adjoining WPA era habitats.  The only thing I wish they would do is add some faux tree climbing apparatus to give the bears an opportunity to hang out above the ground.

When you leave Amazonia the pathway leads directly to a pair of  circa 1930's habitats which are home to the zoo's Andean Bears.  It feels very out of the way, but it is home to a successful Species Survival Program breeding project with 4 cubs having been born since 2019.

The new Female Andean Spectacled Bear.

She is beautiful with the double cream colored "bat wing" markings on her brow.  The actual markings on the face of these bears act like finger prints for humans--every one is unique.

The male was hanging out next door.  He was clearly much larger than the female.

With the Keeper chat over, and the promise of treats gone, he quickly made up his mind to return to the quiet and cooler temps of his below habitat "cave".  I was very happy to be able to see and capture images of both.  Perhaps in another year, there will be some cubs to come and see.

Smithsonian National Zoo: Amazonia, Part 3 (Amphibian Conservation Lab)

 When you depart the interactive Amazon Rain-forest, you enter into a sort of lobby that leads you to the Amphibian Conservation Lab.  The vibe is pure Rain-forest Colonial Finca with high ceiling fans and stucco archways built off of solid square columns, and walls painted in soft by warm shades of yellow.  Besides the habitats full of Frogs and Toads and Newts and Salamanders, there are viewable "lab" areas with many other tanks and spaces for specialists to conduct research--although I don't think anything actually occurs there.   All around the spaces are interesting artifacts set up in curiosity cabinets, and on shelves and attached to the walls.  Everything from a beautifully taxidermied Jaguar to a Lepidopterist's field notebook and collection of Butterfly specimens in a glass faced box.  There's even an alcove with tanks that feature endangered Corals.  

Dyeing Poison Dart Frog

Cranwell's Horned Frog

Eastern Red-Spotted Newt

Gray Tree Frog (top)

and

Fowler's Toad (bottom)

Fowler's Toad

Panamanian Golden Poison Dart Frog

Blessed Poison Dart Frog

Brazilian Poison Dart Frog

A Lepadopetrist's Curiosity Cabinet.  

The Endangered Corals Alcove.

Smithsonian National Zoo: Amazonia, Part 2 (the Rainforest Level)

 Climb the stairs or ride the elevator up to the main level and you enter a magical world.  Welcome to the Amazon.  Pathways guide you through and around tropical trees while a river flows always to the right. The variety and range of plants is fascinating.  The only disappointing aspect on this visit was the lack of variety in the birds.  I spent a lot of time there and only encountered three species.  The aforementioned Roseate Spoonbill, a quartet of Scarlet Ibis and a pair of Yellow-Rumped Cacique.  And still, sometimes less is more.  I really had time to watch these birds.  Some came surprisingly close.  

The Roseate Spoonbill came out of nowhere to plop itself in the middle of the pathway, surrounded by about a dozen lucky visitors, and he just strode about!  No one touched him--I was very impressed by my fellow guests' restraint.  However, there were some amazing photos taken!

The pair of Yellow-Rumped Cacique.

Roseate Spoonbill

Scarlet Ibis

Smithsonian National Zoo: Amazonia, Part 1 (the Ground Floor)

 When you choose to make the ascent up the hill from the base of the Smithsonian National Zoo along the western side, you leave the Kid's Farm and wander seeming off to nowhere.  But it's somewhere: a building called Amazonia.

Amazonia was built in two phases.  The Giant Amazon Rainforest complete with massive tanks that can be view from the ground floor like humongous aquariums, and from the second level as a river flowing through a jungle completely with a waterfall, lush flora and free-flying birds.  Over the years, both three-towed sloths and Bolivian Titi Monkeys have been kept there.  A couple of years ago, the aging sloth lost its grip and fell.  Fortunately, she was not injured, but since that happened, they've not let primates or other arboreal mammals loose within the space.  This section opened in 1992.  

In 1996, the edition that includes a model of an amphibian research and breeding lab, along with some fascinating related artifacts from the Smithsonian's unparalleled collection of stuff.  There's even an alcove area featuring large aquariums dedicated to rare and endangered species of Sea Coral.  The overall design gives you a feeling that you are a guest at some "Fazenda suntuosa" where gentle ceiling fans spin and high ceilings keep you cool from tropical heat and humidity outside.  

As I approached the entrance, I noticed a couple I had spoken to a few moments before looking hesitant, and half a dozen or so others mingling as if waiting for something to happen.  I wondered whether or not the facility was open.  A dapper older man was sitting on a bench closest to me.  I smiled and approached him.  When I start to talk he raised his shoulders and turned his hands fingers extended and palms up and said, "I no language." while gentle shaking his head back and forth.  Now I don't know if my Spanish is shit or not, but for some reason I am just trusting what little I know in situations like this.

I said, "Lo siento, Senor.  Es esta edificio abierto?"  

His eyes lit up and he replied, "Si, si, si..."

I replied, "Muchas gracias, mi amigo."

Then I approached the couple I had previously spoken to (Kim and Theresa Mary) who looked confused and said, "It's open.  We can go in."  And we did.

The very first thing you encounter is a pool full of Amazon River Manta Rays with giant trees covered in jungle flora rising up and out of sight into another cavernous level.  Besides the River Rays there are often birds, including the resident Roseate Spoonbill who is quite the Diva!

These gentle animals have this uncanny "smiley face" mouth and nostrils which you can see when they swim up and press themselves against the glass while foraging for algae.  

Proceeding and you enter a world full of fresh water river behemoths. 

 

Also some usual suspects like this school of Red-bellied Piranhas.

There are also plenty of mid-size fish like this adolescent Turquoise Severum, over-swimming a school of Silver Dollars.

Or this Banded Leporinus enjoying a brunch of romaine lettuce!  Who knew?

And if you don't know, don't worry.  Just consult the beautifully illustrated images of the fish.

Smithsonian National Zoo: The Kid's Farm

 The story begins with a career politician from Ohio.  Representative Ralph Regula, a Republican, was first elected in 1973.  He ended up spending 36 years in the United States House of Representatives.  At some point in the 1990's he began talking up a need for the Smithsonian National Zoo to have a proper dedicated Farm area.  He felt strongly that both urban and suburban children needed to see farm animals in an environment that approximated an actual farm in order to learn about nutrition and all the benefits American agriculture provided.

He was so persuasive and had accrued enough committee seniority that the money was appropriated in 1998.  Designs were drawn up, and construction at the lower end of the zoo began around 2000 with the grand opening to the public in the summer of 2004.  I have to say that it is the largest (2 acres) commitment to Farm Animals I have ever encountered at a zoo.  It also transformed a forgotten little corner of the zoo into a destination exhibit.  You can see: Pigs, Cows, Goats, Donkeys, Chicken and Alpaca.  What you can't do is enter into their spaces and interact with them.  

A LITTLE FREE ADVICE:  I always park in Lot D.  It's at the lower end of the zoo.  I do this because the zoo is built on a very steep hill.  You are going to do some very strenuous climbing no matter where you park.  But if you part at the bottom, you climb in the morning.  This is definitely a benefit from my perspective.  

When you enter the zoo from the bottom and then the Kid's Farm which is directly on your left you can either go straight into the middle of the animals, OR you can take your first left and skirt around the edge.  I always do the latter.  There's a beautiful Koi pond with shade and benches to sit and relax.  It's the best way to see the pigs.  You get a great view of the large "pasture" with the cows and alpacas.  And you can still double back around on the far end to see the rest.

Let's meet some of the animals!

PIGS: Initially, the Ossabaw Island Hog was the preferred swine.  It's a heritage breed that morphed from pigs brought to the New World by some of the first European settlers to Georgia in the 16th century.  They are large (up to 300 lbs), often black or black-tan mottled animals with a reserved personality. 

In 2023, the remaining Ossabaw Island Pig was swapped out for a trio of young Kune Kune pigs.  Kune Kune pigs are native to New Zealand.  They are also a Critically Endangered species of domesticated swine.  They are smaller, growing to a maximum weight of 200, but averaging 170 lbs.  They are very comfortable in companionship with humans and therefore pose less general concern when it comes to caring for them.  They are also adorable!

Here we have (top to bottom) Otis, Winston, and Norman!

Norman was rooting the soil closest to me.

What a furry little cuss!  

The Main "pasture".  Would you even imagine that you are in the middle of the Nation's capital?  People have no idea what Washington, DC is like...

Home to alpacas and cows

COWS:  The Kid's farm is home to two cows.  A more diminutive Hereford named Rose, and an enormous Holstein, named Magnolia.  When Magnolia stands up, you're just like...Holy "Cow," she's a good 5'+ tall at the shoulders.

Magnolia on the left, and Rose on the right.

ALPACA: The Kid's farm is home to four Alpaca (at least that's what I understood to be true, prior to my visit today).  Today only one, Rainstorm, was out and about.  The others could have been inside the barn.  Rainstorm has been described as "more cautious" and so it's a little odd she just did her own thing today.

Rainstorm came to the National Zoo in May of 2025.  She was born in 2023.

Dinner: Red Soup!

 

Resilient Ox Tongue

 A few years ago I bought a little Gasteria gracilis.  I planted it in a little rectangular planter and surrounded it with little pebbles and stones, and made my annual Garden Zoo habitat for a family of Fennec Fox.  It was both fine with the DC summer weather and happy to over winter inside at a window with a southwest exposure.  It relied almost exclusively on natural precipitation when outside and would tolerate long stretches without any watering inside.

Native to arid regions along the coastal highlands all along South Africa's coasts from the Atlantic to the Indian Oceans, it seemed to be just as at home here in my little house in suburban DC.  It started out rather small, and took its sweet time adding a new leaf to its palmate sort of form.  It was a law care, curious little plant.

Then, late in the spring, not too long after being returned to its seasonal perch on the table on my back deck, disaster struck!  Disaster in the form of Winken, Blinken and Nod three young raccoon siblings who regularly terrorize everything on my deck!  On this morning after, I found the upper portion of the plant snapped off from the base and laying with other debris across my deck.  The little Fennec Fox figurines were likewise scattered, but all were eventually found.  

As I cleaned up the mess and pondered the remnants, I wondered what to do for the little Gasteria.   It seemed clear that I could not reconnect the upper leaves to the base.  I also thought, "Well, this sort of thing must befall Gasteria in the wild, right?"  So I set about looking up answers on the internet.  In the end I left the base alone, and simply placed the broken off piece in it's own planter where the torn bottom of the acaulescent stem was in contact with the soil and then added pebbles and stones to give at a surface featuring an inorganic covering like that one it used to have.

I am assuming, since it looks normal and healthy that it is using its plant energies to re-establish a root system.  

As to the original base, a most glorious transformation is occurring.  "Pups" (or new growth spurs) are appearing both around the base, and even more curiously, as a cluster at the site of the open wound to the stem.  Life is tenacious.